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He Snoozes, You Lose: What to Do if Your Guy Snores

It's hard enough to get a good night's sleep when your significant other doesn't sound like a zoo animal. And a recent study found that when women have trouble falling asleep at night, they're more likely to report fewer positive...

It's hard enough to get a good night's sleep when your significant other doesn't sound like a zoo animal. And a recent study found that when women have trouble falling asleep at night, they're more likely to report fewer positive interactions with their spouses the next day (and more negative ones).

So what's a gal to do when her guy snores?

Rather than kick your beau out of bed, we asked John Dittami, author of Sleeping Better Together, for a few tips on how to get some zzzz's without resorting to separate bedrooms:

Lose the booze. Indulging in a nightcap is not conducive to restful sleep. Sure, alcohol is a depressant, and it may make you sleepy, but it doesn't ensure a peaceful night's rest -- on the contrary. Having a few beers before bed actually relaxes throat muscles over the course of the night to stimulate snoring and hampers REM sleep -- not only for your partner, but for you, too!

Go to bed before your beau. Snoring does not stop you from falling asleep, but it does keep you awake. Studies show that partners do not have problems falling asleep initially with a snoring bedmate. But as the night goes on, one wakens 30-40 times throughout the night. Usually these wake periods are less than 30 seconds long and we don't remember them. Nonetheless, when something disturbs you, like snoring, and you have trouble falling back to sleep, act quickly! Wake your partner or change his sleep posture actively or passively.

Create a bedtime ritual: Sleep rituals are very pronounced and couples should work together to devise a routine that works for both parties. This kind of negotiating can make sleeping together successful -- and peaceful, too! Related Links: